Chapter 272
‘This is crazy……’
The first thing Zeke felt upon entering the ritual site was a horrible stench mixed with the smell of blood.
Suppressing his anger, he looked around to find a large cavity carved out of a rock salt cave. Inside, they had built an altar by piling up stones, and dark red byproducts were strewn all over the altar.
Robed figures rushed forward to the mage who had entered with the Mine.
“You’ve arrived, Master.”
The mage immediately slapped the faces of those in front of him.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!
The sound of slapping echoed through the salt cave.
The mages had to stand still and endure all of the mage’s slaps until their cheeks turned red.
The mages who had slapped them looked down at the men with contemptuous eyes and said.
“You idiots.”
“We’re sorry, Master.”
The mage took out a handkerchief and wiped his hands while speaking.
“Where did he go?”
“We believe he hasn’t left the mine yet.”
At those words, the mage kicked the robed man who had just spoken in the stomach, causing him to fall backwards.
“You stupid fools didn’t even realize the test subject was going berserk! Really, are your heads just filled with shit?”
Despite the mage’s harsh words, the men could only listen silently without saying anything.
Looking at these men, the mage spoke with a deeply furrowed brow.
“Damn fools. Go get some magical beasts to chase the test subject. Have the others clean this place thoroughly. The higher-ups will be here soon, so get your act together, you idiots!”
“Yes, Master!”
The robed men rushed away at the mage’s orders.
Several brought buckets and began clearing away the byproducts on the altar.
The mage watched this with an expression full of irritation.
Zeke, hiding, recalled what the mage had said earlier.
‘The higher-ups are coming? Does that mean the upper echelons of Narak are coming here?’
He needed to get more information from the mage.
‘So a test subject went berserk and escaped. I should be able to use this.’
Zeke’s body became even hazier as it completely melted into the darkness.
Just then, the sound of magical beasts howling could be heard from far away.
GRRRRRR!
Shortly after, the robed men brought several dog-like magical beasts on leashes.
The magical beasts drooled and tried to struggle following their instincts, but they had to obey these men because of the restraining leashes.
The mage said irritably.
“Release their restraints.”
The mage’s disciples released the magical beasts’ leashes with trembling hands.
When their restraints were released, the magical beasts responded aggressively.
At that moment, the mage raised his hand to control the magical beasts.
As he muttered an incantation, the magical beasts suddenly became docile and approached the mage.
Then they jumped onto the altar and started sniffing around.
The mage spoke to the magical beasts.
“Remember that smell. And find the escaped test subject.”
GRRRRRR!
The dog-like magical beasts immediately turned and began running off somewhere into the cave.
KAAAAAK!
The mage shouted at his disciples.
“Why are you standing there like idiots?! Chase after those filthy things right now!”
At the mage’s bellowing, the disciples started running frantically.
“Having such worthless people as disciples… damn it.”
He grumbled while leading the Mine to follow after the disciples.
After entering the rock salt cave like that, the mage sensed something strange.
“Something’s not right…”
True to being a dark mage, he was quite suspicious by nature.
That’s when it happened.
CRASH!
After hearing a strange sound, he could no longer sense the presence of the magical beasts that had been sent to catch the berserk subject.
“Damn it!”
The mage ran urgently.
There were traces of the magical beasts inside the tunnel, where one disciple crawled out bleeding.
“M-Master, s-save…”
WHOOSH!
When the mage failed to react instantly, something wrapped around the disciple and pulled him inside.
CRUNCH!
A loud noise erupted from inside the tunnel.
The mage furrowed his brow.
“This has become annoying.”
He gave orders to the Mein behind him.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
As the Mein entered the tunnel first, the mage carefully followed behind them while using them as shields.
That’s when something shot up from the ground and wrapped around the Mein’s legs.
BOOM!
Half of the Mein’s bodies burrowed into the ground.
The mage immediately raised his staff and struck the ground.
“Die!”
RUMBLE!
When the mage cast his spell, the entire ground shook.
KIEEEEEK!
Then, the ground stirred elsewhere and a grotesque figure with writhing tentacles all over its body staggered into view.
It was the berserk test subject the mage had been looking for.
The Mein’s that were buried in the ground rose again and charged at the berserk test subject.
WOONG!
Magical energy rose from the swords drawn by the Mine.
The Mein’s swung their magic-imbued swords at the test subject.
BOOM!
In an instant, the tentacles protruding from the test subject’s body extended like whips and struck the Mein’s bodies.
KIEEEEEK!
When the test subject screamed at the Mein, tentacles suddenly stretched out and wrapped around them.
WHOOSH!
As the Mein tried to cut the tentacles with their swords, the test subject began absorbing the magical energy residing in their bodies through its tentacles
GULP! GULP!
As their magical energy was absorbed by the test subject, the Mine could only tremble, unable to move their bodies.
The mage watching from behind showed a surprised expression.
“It absorbs magical energy? What an amazing ability.”
Curious about how the test subject would react after absorbing the magical energy, he observed the situation without helping.
Soon the tentacles detached from the Mein’s bodies, and the Mine, drained of all magical energy, collapsed weakly to the ground.
Their helmets rolled off revealing their faces, which had all transformed into mummy-like appearances.
The mage observed this phenomenon with interest as well.
CRUNCH!
The test subject’s body could be seen gradually changing after absorbing the magical energy.
KAAAAAK!
The disgustingly writhing tentacles were drawn back into the body and a hard shell formed on its surface.
Then the test subject’s body began to change as if wearing armor.
The mage grinned widely at the sight.
“HAHAHA! Good heavens, the experiment succeeded! We’ve resurrected a demon race!”
The transformed test subject’s face looked exactly like a combination of an ant and a mantis.
GRRRR!
The fully transformed test subject moved its antennae and looked at the mage.
Condensed magical energy emanated from the test subject’s body.
The mage pointed his staff at the test subject while smiling.
“I’ll have to dissect you thoroughly for experiments. Consider it an honor to be the cornerstone of a great cause.”
Black smoke flowed from the mage’s staff. The smoke slowly wrapped around the test subject.
GRRRK!
The test subject sensed something wrong and tried to back away, but the smoke had already bound its body.
KAAAAAK!
The bound test subject let out a horrible scream.
Seeing this, the mage smiled and said to the test subject.
“You fool. Do you think a mere test subject can break free from this binding seal?”
As the smoke completely enveloped the test subject’s body, it collapsed to the ground.
It rolled on the ground, completely immobilized.
The mage looked down at the test subject and said.
“Resistance is futile. Just quietly follow my orders…”
The mage who was speaking mockingly suddenly shuddered.
“URRRGH.”
As the mage stood frozen, someone slowly walked forward.
Zeke approached the mage who was bound by shadow domination.
The mage glared at Zeke with disbelieving eyes.
Zeke spoke while looking at the mage.
“I’ll return your words right back to you. Since resistance is futile, quietly give up the information.”
The mage trembled and tried to break free from the shadow dominion somehow, but it was useless.
Meanwhile, Zeke took out chains to thoroughly bind the mage and cast a soul sealing technique.
He spoke while dragging the mage deeper into the tunnel.
“Now then, let’s have an in-depth conversation.”
* * *
BOOM!
The salt mine’s door opened and a black carriage entered.
SNORT!
The horse exhaled roughly and shook its head.
Shortly after, figures wearing black robes stepped out of the carriage one by one.
They were all bald without eyebrows, and one of them had a bizarre pattern branded on his forehead.
After they got out and lined up to the side, someone finally emerged last.
HUFF! HUFF!
A tall man wearing a leather mask with a beak shape like what doctors wore during the Holy Empire era stepped down from the carriage with a noble bearing under his black robe.
The others bowed their heads solemnly toward him.
Just then, a dark mage came running urgently from inside.
He approached the masked man while trembling.
“A-Apostle! I’m truly sorry. There was an accident at the baptismal site a few days ago…”
The mage with the brand on his forehead interrupted him and spoke in a low voice.
“Where is the administrator?”
“W-well. He’s recovering from injuries while controlling the test subject. Most others were also injured…”
The branded mage looked down at him with disgust and said.
“The Apostle has arrived. Tell him to come down and receive him immediately.”
Just then, the masked one called the Apostle whispered something in a barely audible voice.
The mage nodded after hearing the Apostle’s words.
“The Apostle wishes to see the test subject mentioned in the report first. Guide us there.”
“Y-yes, understood.”
The prepared ones carefully led the Apostle and mages to where the test subject was restrained.
Along the way, they could see walls destroyed and prisons demolished everywhere.
The mage who had relayed the Apostle’s words earlier spoke while looking at the destroyed facilities.
“Was all this destroyed by the test subject as well?”
“Y-yes. That’s correct. The test subject broke the prison and devoured all the sacrifices inside.”
At those words, the mage furrowed his brow and spoke in a low voice.
“The administrator will be held severely accountable for this.”
It was a time when even one sacrifice was precious for conducting a larger baptism.
Especially among the sacrifices, unsullied children were the highest quality.
Wasting such precious sacrifices was a serious offense.
The Apostle and the bald mages said nothing more and went to where the test subject was restrained.
Those standing in front of the thick iron door nodded as if saying to open it.
The dark mage guiding them opened the iron door while trembling in fear.
CLANG!
As the iron door opened, the Apostle and bald mages entered.
GRRRR!
The chained test subject made threatening sounds while looking at the mages.
The bald mages took out their staffs and pointed them at the test subject.
RUMBLE!
Under invisible pressure, the test subject lost balance and collapsed to the ground.
GRRRRRR―
Then the Apostle at the back slowly approached the test subject, stretched out his hand and read its energy.
The Apostle who had been standing still for a while slowly lowered his hand.
Then he gestured to call over the branded mage.
When he mumbled into the mage’s ear in a low voice, the mage who heard his words was shocked.
“Is that really true? Apostle! If the restoration experiment succeeded, we can advance the great cause. We must report this to Him immediately…”
BOOM!
Suddenly the thick iron door closed.
The branded mage shouted.
“How dare you while the Apostle is present?! Open the door immediately!”
That’s when it happened.
Something slowly walked out from the darkness.
The Apostle flinched in surprise and stepped back.
His pupils rolled inside his mask as red light shone from his eyes.
Surprised by the Apostle’s strange reaction, the branded mage asked.
“A-Apostle. What’s wrong?”
When the Apostle mumbled again, the branded mage moved closer to him.
“I-I can’t hear you well, Apostle.”
That’s when it happened.
SCREECH!
A sharp sound resonated through the entire space.
Suddenly a horrible metallic voice like scratching an iron wall leaked from the Apostle.
[ZEKE DRAKER! THAT’S ZEKE DRAKER!]
At the Apostle’s reaction, Zeke took another step forward holding Anexi’s dagger.
“Finally caught you. You damn Apostle of Narak.”
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